Chapter 18: Choosing a Weapon
“Here is the area in which all our swords are stored. We don’t have many heavy swords and I honestly think you’re the only one in the city that even attempts to use one at the moment. They are just too heavy and humans aren’t built to have that kind of body strength. Our body tempering arts are simply not good enough to wield them easily.”
Tirin did his best to hide a smirk. “Well I have a Divine body tempering art he thought. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine, I am used to holding heavy weapons.”
“Tirin, don’t worry about price; I can buy any sword you want said Elder Byron.”
Tirin walked into the back corner of the room. Lena and Elder Byron watched him closely; both curious as to why he would choose a heavy sword when he looked like a person that would use a quick or long sword. Tirin began to ponder over the questions that Master Thrin had asked him. While looking at the rack of Heavy Swords he studied each of them; in the whole room all the other sword types had ten or more racks each and yet only one for the heavy sword. Tirin slowly thought of his sword path.
“I don’t want to have a sword that submits easily. A sword that submits easily to me isn’t worthy of being a heavy sword. It has to want its own freedom. If it’s arrogant then it has to have the strength to look down on all in its rank through suppression. It can’t falter when fighting a higher ranked weapon as I will no doubt jump ranks to fight in order to find a good challenge. But what path will I take? Killing, or suppression, what about a different path? Master Thrin did say that it is harder but more worth it to make my own path. If that’s the case I know, I will walk the path of killing, suppression and protection. I will suppress and slaughter all who get in my way but not forego my humanity for power and use it to protect myself and those worth protecting.”
Of all the swords here there is only one that fit Tirins criteria. It was also the only sword still in its sheath. On the sheath was the name Heavens and Hells Sealing Sword. When Tirin grabbed the sword he immediately felt aura try to restrain him and make him submit. It was an extremely heavy aura. But, it was nowhere near as how suppressed he felt when he met his three masters.
“I’m sorry friend I don’t like to be suppressed and forced to submit either said Tirin.”
Tirin released all three essences he had at once and retaliated with his own essences. They began a tug of war over who could defeat the other in terms of sheer aura strength. The heavy sword felt Tirins own kingly aura equally as strong and suppressive as itself and it began to ponder as it slowly started to lose. The sword then started to move out of its sheath letting Tirin extract it. As Tirin pulled it out, his aura and the Heavens and Hells Sealing Sword began to mix making his sword essence even more over bearing. On Tirins right hand appeared an imprint of a Heavy Sword. The Heavy Sword had not submitted but instead in his mind he heard the sword spirit speak to him.
“If your will wavers, you will not be able to wield me. Do not disappoint me, never kneel before anyone else or you are not worthy of me. Do what you want, not what anyone else wants.”
Elder Byron and Pavilion Master Lena were dumbstruck. Tirin didn’t suppress a Mortal Heavy Sword that was almost ready to become a Heart Path Sword but instead gained its recognition. They were shocked that something that only ever happened in legends could occur where weapon and wielder had a mutual relationship. The next thing they knew, Tirin was wielding the sword as if it weighed nothing in one hand. Even more shocking was when they felt Tirins own aura. How could a cultivator in the first level of the Transcendence Essence Realm have such a powerful aura released when he released his essence? It was as if his essence looked down upon everything in the Mortal Realm.
“He only has mortal essence right Byron? Is he cultivating a taboo essence? Lena asked nervously.”
“No he has completely normal essence I checked myself. How much is the sword? Said Elder Byron”
“It is 10000 mortal essence crystals.”
“That’s expensive but I’ll take it.”
“Well I would let him take it for half the price anyways, because of the heaven defying action he just did said Lena. Now I can see why he asked for light armor. With the way he is holding it, the sword is light as a feather in his hands, not even sapping much endurance. I am going to venture that his body is very strong despite not showing it. I will go grab a suit of light armor for him for free.”
“Be honest you’re going to find Ayla and tell her she might have a new rival aren’t you? Yes I am. But the armor will be waiting at the front of the pavilion.”
Chapter 19: Returning to the academy
After leaving the Pavilion; Elder Byron Scolded Tirin.
“What secrets are you hiding? How can you have such essence at such a low cultivation level?”
“Master, the reason I was called a cripple was simply because I never showed my essence. I would have no end of trouble before I was strong enough to defend myself. My essence is the same as every other human cultivator. I just have more mastery over mine so it seems stronger when it actually isn’t.”
Elder Byron felt as if Tirin was spoon feeding him lies. But then he decided it must be at least half true because human cultivator essence was easily changeable based on mastery over it and his aura did merge with the heavy sword making it so strong.
“Well anyways this is important; all weapons have the ability to evolve to higher rank weapons. If you let it feed off your essence at all times then it will grow stronger with you, but you have to decide if it is the weapon you want to use at all times before doing so because once you choose a weapon most other weapons will not be willing to work with you. I’m guessing that your sword is already starting to feed off your essence because of your mutual relationship you agreed upon in order to use it. It is a fine sword so I give my blessing that you will use it for your path of cultivation and let it evolve to become the strongest heavy sword.”
“Apparently he doesn’t know about the Soul Seizing Heavy Sword thought Tirin.”
“Go change into the light armor and let’s head to Emperor Heart Academy, I believe they all think you are dead so when we return you can use the side dorm connected to my room. From then on I will instruct you every day and you won’t have to go to any classes except sparring class.”Later in the day; they approached the Academy.Students stared at Tirin wondering who he was to be able to walk with Elder Byron. Although Elder Byron always hid it, some disciples knew he was an elder of the academy. Walking to the registration desk, the clerk looked at Tirin. “Elder Byron who is this new disciple that is beside you?”
“No, he is returning from a leave of absence, it is disciple Tirin.” At that moment the clerk and everyone nearby who heard Elder Byron stopped walking and stared dumbstruck at Tirin. He was completely different. He had grown over eight inches and had long hair. He was actually muscular and looked like he could hold his own in a fight. The clerk gave a dry laugh. “Don’t make such dark jokes, the idiot cripple died on an adventure six months ago.” This time, Tirins killing intent slowly leaked out at those words, causing the clerk to look at him in fear. “Who are you calling a cripple; I never said once that I was a cripple. I am Tirin and as promised I am going to show Graith who is truly strong and who just relies on his daddy for pills to cultivate.”
“Tirin restrain yourself, you will most definitely win the class competition said Elder Byron. Everyone! Stop staring and get on with your business or do you want me to make you all go to the punishment hall.” Everyone immediately left, but not before they started rumors about how Tirin had returned and from what they could tell, actually was planning to fight in the class competition.
In Elder Byron’s housing area he began to lecture Tirin. “In this competition killing or crippling a fellow disciple is forbidden unless the two make a soul oath before hand. If you were planning on crippling Graith for all the humiliation you suffered then you must get a soul oath. Now listen, the key to winning is by withholding as much of your abilities as possible. Only show what abilities you have to in order to win and nothing more. Someone who has shown all his cards has no chance to win. This isn’t like when you fought elemental beasts; humans are more cunning and will purposefully hurt themselves if it gets an opening to defeat you. The competition starts tomorrow, I have registered you as my disciple instead of registering you under your class so any glory you obtain is for you and you alone. You are in the Transcendence Essence Realm bracket. Graith has gone from the peak Foundation Essence Realm to late stage Transcending Essence Realm eighth level, no doubt with help from his father. Don’t think his foundation is unstable though even though I’m guessing he took many pills. I believe you have much more of a stable foundation and survival skills from being in the Eastern Primal Mountains for five months though. Your other opponent to worry about is Ayla Sthren the heavens proud daughter of the Sthren family. She is their greatest talent in over 1000 years. She may come from a wealthy family but she is diligent. Ayla is at the peak. She is a tenth level Transcendence Essence Realm expert. There are also numerous late stage cultivators. If you want to win it will be very hard but I believe you can.”
In the Sthren household:“Ayla there is a dark horse in this year’s competition.”
“You say that every year Aunt Lena.”
“This time I mean it, you will be very hard pressed to win said Lena. There is a cultivator by the name of Tirin who is only in the first level Transcendence Essence Realm.”
“Why should I fear someone nine levels below me said Ayla sarcastically?”
“He obtained a mutual relationship with a weapon. That only occurs in legends! The weapon is the Heavens and Hells Sealing Sword.”
“That’s impossible! No one has ever obtained a mutual relationship with a heavy sword!”
“Well he did it and his essence is extremely tyrannical and almost as thick as yours. If he mixes his sword aura with his essence then it is no less thick than yours. I also feel he is hiding many wondrous arts on his body. My intuition says in the finals you won’t be fighting the heavens proud son of the Windon family but him instead. My greatest reason that he can contend with you is that he is Elder Byron’s Disciple who even you couldn’t get to become a disciple of.”
“I am going to have to keep my eye on all his matches when I am not currently in a match myself then said Ayla while she contemplated. Let me see if he really is as strong as you say Aunt Lena. Maybe I’ll finally meet someone that I can spar with daily to further improve myself.”